"I don't know the question but sex is definitely the answer."

'~~~~|~~~~'

"I see you took my advice," I lean back comfortably in the chair that I sat on which was situated on the patio. I bite back a smile by placing one of my fingernails between my teeth.

I hear a deep and rumbling chuckle followed by an array of voices. "Yes, I realized that you made a fair point."

The noise got relatively louder until I heard someone come to stand close to Enrique, telling him something about a patient in room 265.

It seemed as if he covered the speaker with his hand while he spoke and moved to a quieter room because, after that, the noise was all but a quiet rumble.

I hesitate, "Are you sure you're not busy? You can call back during your break," I advised.

He laughs again, "Trust me, my break is more hectic than this. This is as free as I get," I hear the slight squeak of a chair as he sits down, releasing a tired sigh. "Now, about that dinner..."

I shake my head in disbelief, "You sure are persistent, aren't you?"

He hums, "I've learned in my line of work that it's the only way to get what you want in life," He explains. "With that being said, how does tomorrow sound? I'm not quite sure what time I'm free yet, and I'm sorry that I won't be able to pick you up but I'm not quite sure that your husband would like that very much."

For the first time since I met up with him again, his voice held animosity. This caused my smile to falter, and my throat to become dry. I spoke, "I'm sure he wouldn't mind me going to a friendly dinner," I laugh nervously. "But um- yeah, I think you should just send the address."

He grunts humorlessly, "I figured." He was silent for a moment, "I'll text you the address and time. Dress however you please." He encouraged.

"Duly noted," I say. "You sound tired. Rough day?" I was skeptical to keep the conversation going, but at the moment, his voice sounded groggy and wavering.

"Ahh," He drags out tiredly. "I haven't had a full night's sleep since Tuesday," Today was Friday. "I've been sleeping at the hospital for the entire night. I miss my bed, is all," He chuckles.

I sympathize, grabbing onto the water on the table next to me, "I can't imagine how stressful it must be to run a hospital."

Hearing the smile in his voice, he speaks, "Contrary to popular belief, being an attending was much harder, I get fewer surgeries now, and it's mostly just paperwork that I can do at home, I just prefer to come to the hospital."

I swipe my tongue across my lower lip, "To me, it sounds like you give yourself more work than you're required to do."

"Hm, well it keeps me busy, I guess," He explains. "Listen- I have to go now but-uh- I'll see you tomorrow, okay?"

I nod my head for a second before remembering that he couldn't see me, "Yeah, of course."

Basking for a moment longer in our silence, I ended the call.

'~~~~|~~~~'

"I feel like I haven't seen you in years," Jenny sighed onto my shoulder.

I huffed, "Yeah, I know. I'm sorry I've been distant lately," I take a step into the house, "But with the test and all. It's been stressful."

I see Ryan enter the room, his hands expertly tieing his tie around his neck, eyes focused on the tasks animatedly.

"Hey, Ryan," I smile politely. He looks up and squints his eyes. "Ahh, Demiah," He takes his glasses off of his face and cleans them. "It's nice to see you. Are you staying for lunch?"

I hum, "I might, beats eating alone at home," Much to my dismay, I feel a bitter taste in my mouth at the last word.

He smiles, "Well, I'm sorry that I can't join both of you. I'm late already as it is," He apologizes.

I wave him off, "Ahh, it's okay."

He leaves after kissing Jenny on the cheek.

Jenny turns back to me, "Speaking about the test, how'd it go?"

She grabbed onto Rebecca's hand as she led me further into the house.

"The doctor said it looked fine, but I don't get my results for a short while. It's freaking me out," I admit.

Jenny looks at me sympathetically, "Well, you can always come and talk to me if it's anything."

I nod my head and murmur a grateful thanks in appreciation.

For the rest of the afternoon, I sat with Jenny and her three beautiful children, me helping Rebecca with her lunch and Jenny cleaning up after little Justin every 2 minutes.

It was only when I was together with Jenny and her little family, that I finally felt at home.

'~~~~|~~~~'

I checked the address on my phone again to ensure that I pulled up at the correct location. His house was beautiful. Of course, Titus' irrelevant mansion was larger, but it more so looked like a castle than a house that only two persons should live in.

Enrique's house was wide and covered several acres of land, but its structure was flat and made mainly out of glass. The walls on the outside were all white and the grass looked like it was spray-painted green.

I sighed and looked into my rearview mirror, finding myself fixing my hair and checking to see if my lipstick was perfect.

When I realized what I was doing, I quickly stopped and shook my head, murmuring to myself, "Friends, friends, friends," I repeat over and over again.

I readjusted the heels on my feet and grabbed my bag from the backseat of the car. I stepped out and stood in front of it, taking a deep breath and patting my cheeks to remove the redness.

As I walked up to his door, looking around the surroundings, I speak to myself, "It's just dinner. Two old friends eating with each other, having fun..." I whisper.

I raise my hand in a fist to knock on his large boarded, eloquent white door, "We can do this. I can do this. Eat the food, and leave," I finally knock. "Just friends, friends," I found myself smiling as I hear footsteps towards the door.

My breathing slowed as I felt myself relax and my rash thoughts come to a stop. I had no idea why I was so nervous. This was Enrique I was talking about. He would probably try teasing me and successfully do so, but it'd be anything but awkward with him, so I found myself laughing at the thought of me even being nervous and anxious.

When the door flew open, I suddenly remembered why I was so nervous— why I had to keep repeating- what now seemed to be meaningless quotes and thoughts to myself.

Dressed in a black-dressed shirt, with sleeves pushed up above his elbows and collar not even turned down as yet, Enrique just had to be the most attractive man I had ever seen. My heart thumped when my eyes traveled to his chest, where two buttons were left open, revealing his tanned, and bare chest to me.

Flowing around muscular thighs were a pair of matching black slacks. I could've bet my life that could crush a large watermelon with those godly thighs.

He leaned against the support of the door, folding his arms across his chest, "Demiah," He breathed.

"Enrique," I counter as I smile at him nervously.

He looks behind him for a short moment until a short, plump lady with greyish, curly hair and a bronze completion steps out and exits the house, cleaning supplies in her hand.

She smiles politely at me as she passes, just after she squeezes Enrique's arm, "Graciás, Conchita," Enrique's lips tug up into a comfortable smile as he watches her walk away.

His tongue swipes below his bottom lip, "Ah, come in, come in," He quickly gestures with his hands, shutting the door softly behind me.

"Conchita?" I turn back to look at him after he assists me with removing my jacket from my shoulders.

"Yeah, she cleans the place for me sometimes, twice a week," He explains as he sticks his hands in his pocket. I nod in understanding as he continues, "Can I get you something to drink?" He offers as he motions for me to come further in.

I look around the flat, seeing different paintings and sculptures. They were beautiful of course, but I was never a big art guru so I didn't understand. I could fall in love with a nice landscape painting or something, but I was never a fan of the heroics.

Nevertheless, the colours and themes blending nicely together with each other, allowing it to surely be very aesthetic on the eyes.

"Your house is beautiful," I mumble, my heels clicking and clacking against the marbled floor.

I turn around to face him as he speaks, "Thank you," He breathes out a laugh lightly. He motions towards the fridge again, reminding me of his question.

I follow him as he walks towards the kitchen. Everything about his house was so coordinated. Everything was either silver, grey, black or white The only speck of colour was the little fruit bowl that contained a variety of different fruits in them.

"Some wine would be nice, thank you," He looks up at me through his eyelashes from behind the island separating us.

"Red or white?" He asks.

"Red," I quickly say. He nods his hand in approval as he turns around to the sink. Swinging his head back around to face me, smiling charmingly, "Is there something wrong with the stool that you can't sit?" His chin juts out to the opened seat.

I blush, much to my dismay, and take a seat in front of the island, a nervous laugh bubbling from my throat.

"Just wait here a second, I'll be down in the wine cellar," He spoke. I watched him walk away, my back leaning backward until I found that he was clearly out of sight.

I quickly got up and walked to the sink, pushing my hands under the water before patting them over my cheeks lightly.

I dab off the water with the handkerchief in my purse, quickly taking a seat again.

Why did Enrique have to look so good? Why did he have to be so sweet and caring? Why couldn't he be an arrogant prick who only cared about himself? All of his characteristics and features annoyed me to no end.

Enrique returned, expertly showcasing the wine to me to see if it was to my liking. I nod my head in approval, straightening my back.

As he leans against the counter, his wrist now turning and twisting at the cork of the bottle with the corkscrew he retrieved from the drawer, the veins in his arms pop out, making me quickly readjust my eyes to his face as he speaks, "I assume you know already but- I can't resist telling you how absolutely beautiful you look," His eyes flicker up to meet mine.

I maintain his gaze before I look down at the design of the counter, suddenly becoming flustered at the compliment.

I wasn't one to receive them often, so when I did, I surely didn't know how to act.

I'm startled a bit as the cork pops off of the wine bottle, "Well-uh- thank you," I straighten up, "And you do look pretty dapper yourself," I smile teasingly.

He walks over to me after grabbing a glass, "I do clean up nice, don't I?" He muses.

He pours himself and me a glass. I lift the glass, looking up at Enrique as he holds his also. He shrugs almost absentmindedly, declaring a toast as he raises his glass in the air, "To old friends," He speaks.

I repeat, "To old friends."

We clink our glasses before taking a sip of mine, swiping my tongue on my bottom lip. Hmm, that was good.

"So," I clasp my hands together, "I take it Conchita prepared dinner? You should give her my compliments because it smells delicious," I peek over his shoulder and around to the pot on the stove.

"Demiah Sallow," He states disapprovingly. I don't correct the last name. "I find it insulting that you'd even say that," He belts out a laugh. "Because I remember being the one who had to cook all the time because someone didn't know how to," He quips.

I breathe out an unbelievable laugh, "Yeah? 'Cause I remember the only dish being on the menu is Mac and Cheese," I joke. "You made a mean dish though, I'll give you that," I smile as I take another sip of my wine, feeling myself relax a bit.

I watch as he takes out some food for us, setting out dishes to the side, "Well it was the only thing that I could afford," He snorts. "But now, the owner can now afford steak and cauliflower," A laugh bubbles from my throat at the honorable mention.

"Ah, yes, the cauliflower-" My laughter comes to a stop as I catch a whiff of dinner as he passes by me to put the plates on the table.

I stand from my placement on the stool, walking over to the nicely set dining table, "Wow, that smells delicious," I compliment truthfully. I move towards the table, Enrique coming over to pull out my seat for me. After murmuring a quick thank you of appreciation, "Let's see if it's as good as your famous macaroni and cheese, although I think nothing can beat that," I mused.

I feel his eyes on me even as I look away and take a sip of my wine, "Can't complain, the old man loved it," He quipped. He looks down at the delectable food on his plate as he takes his seat, "Shall we say grace?" Without waiting for an answer, he had already outstretched his for me to take.

I was slightly taken back as I looked at his opened palm. I hadn't prayed in- I'd say a little over 2 years, and I certainly never thought to say grace in a very long period before that.

Seeing Enrique's expectant eyes and outstretched arm, memories flooded back at all of our meals together. Grace felt like a natural thing to us. We'd always take turns- say it before breakfast, lunch, dinner, supper- it was a simple and small routine, the routine of so many other people in the world, but it used to mean everything to me.

I took his hand gently, a small smile resting on both of our lips. After Enrique gave thanks for the meal before us, we dug into the delicious meal that he prepared for us.

Our conversation began light, me asking him about his work and the patients he had, and him asking me about my car and if it was up and well.

"So uh-" He forked his steak. "Speaking how I mentioned my father earlier, he told me how you came by to see him some time back.

My fork slowed its moments, " Yeah," I admitted. "I just... really wanted to see how he was doing."

"Hm," He shrugs. "Could've asked me," He states.

I looked up from my plate, catching the slight edge in his voice, "Hey, I'm sorry I didn't ask for your permission- it won't happen again," I murmur.

"No, no," He aims to correct. "He just told me this thing where-" His fork clinks against his plate as he straightens his back. He laughed almost nervously as he awaited my response to what he was about to say, as if he was about to say something funny. "He had this crazy notion where you were trying to get him to run you off or something. Old man argued his way to sleep. Wouldn't shut up about it," He shakes his head in what seems to be amusement. "Crazy, right?"

I clear my throat and look down at my lap as I play with the napkin.

I feel his eyes on me.

"Oh," He says.

I squeeze my eyes shut tightly, "Enrique... it wasn't like that, okay?" I try to reason. "I just- got the mixed impressions about us at first. But it's fine now," I laugh nervously. "I mean- we're sitting here together, and I think we're having a nice time," I try to smile as I look at him. It falters as I see him lean backward in his chair and shake his head in disbelief.

I bite my lip. I had a really nice evening and now that was over. And I also had the feeling that it wasn't just the evening that was over.

I put the napkin on the table. "I should go," I clear my throat again. He doesn't reply. I finally get up when he doesn't stop me, "Yeah, I'll go."

Just as I'm about to thank him for the dinner, he drags back his chair and says under his breath, "Yeah, you're good at that."

He begins to clear the table as if he said nothing, "Excuse me?" I take offense as I grab my bag. "And exactly what is that supposed to mean?"

He opens his mouth and then closes it, plates in hand, "What it means-" His voice drips with hostility. "-is that that is always your first resort. Always has been. So be my guest," He motions toward the door with his full hands.

I throw my bag on the table once again, my nostrils flaring, "Oh, I always leave? Here we go again, what did you want me to do Enrique, hm?" I shake my head in utter disbelief as I raise my voice.

I clench my fists when he places the wares back onto the dining table. "Oh, you want to have this conversation now? Are you sure - because, I remember you also ignoring, blocking me, and practically throwing me out of your life in only one fucking night!"

I begin to walk away, ignoring his words and the rise in his voice. I didn't need this right now.

I finally turned to look at him again, "You know, I have no idea what you want me to tell you right now. That what? I'm sorry? If I could redo it again, I'd stay? I had no choice!"

"No you had a choice," He countered, stalking his way until he was directly in front of me. "You had choices, Miah, just none of them included me."

I breathe out an incredulous laugh, my anger causing me not to be fazed by our proximity, "What are you talking about?" I fold my arms across my chest.

He points a finger down at my face, "For you, it was either, listen to my parents and marry the guy, or don't listen and move out with no money, only the clothes on your back. But no where in your decision making- did you think to include me," He seethes.

I falter, "Yes... Yes, I did. I just-you were taking care of your sick father Enrique. Was I suppose to live with you and just live off of the little money that you were making at the repair shop. You could barely support yourself and your father, you really think that you could handle another person too?"

His head cranes back in offense as he takes a step back. My eyes droop in regret as I reach out to him but he avoids my touch, "I- you know I didn't mean it like that," He raises his hands in surrender, a grim, yet angry look on his face.

"No, by all means, carry on, tell me about how screwed up your life would've been if you stayed with me. Because I'm dying to hear more," I look away in regret once again as I sigh. He comes to sit at the coffee table that was now in front of me, his slacks straining against his thighs as he laps the ankle of one foot across the knee of his other, and folds his arms.

"Don't look at me like that," I antagonize. "Look at this," I motion toward our surroundings. "You really think you'd have all of this if you had to support me too?"

He unfolds his feet and levels up to me, his form directly in front of me, eyes dark and lips in a sneer, "So my success is because you left me, hm? Well, thank you for that. I really appreciate it."

I look down, "I didn't mean-" It seems like I was saying all the wrong things. "Maybe it's best I leave for real this time."

"I have a question first," He stops me. I clench my fists, turning around to face him. "Do you love him?" My heart thumps loudly at the question.

"He- He is my husband," I say unconvincingly, holding my head higher.

"I didn't ask you that, I ask if you loved him," He quipped, his head tilted to the side.

I didn't hesitate, "And that is none of your business."

He clicks his tongue twice on the roof of his mouth, "You're deflecting- it's a yes or no question." I scoffed and turned away after having no response to his question, "You know what your problem is?" He spoke when I rested my hand on the doorknob. I didn't turn around. "You never let anyone take care of you, even now and before. You knew that I loved you with everything I had in me and you also know that I would've done anything- anything for you."

I stare at the door as my hand tightens around the knob as he continues, "So if you leave here right now- if you walk through that door, I'd like you not to come back. Because I know that I can't go through again what you put me through. Not for a second time."

My eyes burned with angry, unshed tears as my form stood rigid. I looked at my hand on the door, feeling Enrique's eyes scrutinizing my next move. I could hear his heavy breathing just a few feet away.

Finally releasing a shaky breath and without looking back, I turned the handle, and walked out, leaving the wide door open in the wake of my departure.

'~~~~|~~~~'

I drive.

I drive frantically as I look all around me, my breathing ragged and my vision blurred.

I restlessly continued to adjust my hand all over the stirring wheel, looking into my rearview mirrors every minute. I knew that I was well past the speed limit but my brain wasn't functioning right.

I overtook cars to the left and right of me as I rushed to get home and lie down. It didn't make situations any better since I knew that Titus was going to be there and he wasn't expecting me back so early. I made up a lie and said I was having dinner at Jenny's and seeing my cheeks damped with tears and me alone looking like a mess, would be a lot to explain.

My eyes widen as I see a bright light before my eyes, only now realizing that I was in the wrong lane. I quickly swerved to the other side of the road, my heart beating loudly in my chest as my foot quickly hits the brake, my body lunging forward.

I sit still in shock, my lips apart and hands firmly on the wheel as I try to slow my breathing.

I rest my forehead on the steering wheel, my body shaking as tears leak from my eyes. I hated this. I hated everything. I hated how I wanted Enrique in my life, even as a stupid friend if it meant that I'd get to see him. But most of all, I hated how I had to go home to a man that I despised and pretend that I was the perfect wife.

With nothing but hatred inside of me, I drove back to the mansion, unhappy with what my life had become and what it would continue to be.

I pulled up at the front of the house, walking inside barefoot with my heels in my hand and eyes downcast in exhaustion.

My hair was still in the updo I had it in, but I could tell that it was falling apart because strands were hanging before my eyes.

I opened the door and sighed, not even stopping to turn the light on to announce my presence. I dragged myself up the stairs groggily, my eyes drooping tiredly.

I just wanted to forget that this day ever happened.

I finally reached the top of the stairs, my movements slowing as I hear a feminine laugh. I push open the slightly ajar door, choking on my breath as I see the appalling sight before me.

Now aware of my presence, Titus quickly faces me as he turns on his back. Surprisingly, his expression was one of guilt and horror as his mouth blubbered open and shut.

The heels in my hand dropped on the floor with a thud as I stare at the person in bed with him. In the bed that I sleep on every night, wearing my nightgown.

I swallow as I stare at Beatrice sprawled all over the sheets, quickly grabbing the material to cover herself.

My mouth opens as the tears that had now begun to dry up came again. I inhale loudly through my nose as a way to stop the putrid liquid from leaving my eyes.

Without much faltering, I look away and simply walk away from the doorframe, my steps those of a person that seemed to be physically injured as I stumbled and grab onto anything that could help me stand up straight.

I finally made it to my car again, sitting in the driver's seat as I stare blankly in front of me, a stray tear finally escaping after much effort to keep it in.

Was I crying because I knew that Titus had been unfaithful to me but didn't want to believe it? That even after 11 years of marriage, I expected him to have even the slightest bit of respect for me to not do his deeds on the bed that I lay on every night?

Or maybe I was crying because I was so unattractive to my husband that he felt the need to seek comfort in a woman that was nearly twice my age.

Despite all of these viable reasons, I went with one that I knew above all was the reason why it felt like my heart had been shattered into a thousand pieces. It was because even after all of these years, after everything that Titus put me through, I still had a thread of hope that sometime, maybe in the near future, I could be in a marriage where I felt loved, where I could take long walks in the park and hold hands with my partner.

But now, after this, I knew it could never happen, because this was Titus I was talking about. Along with that revelation came the fact that I would always be married to him- always be trapped, just so that my mother could get the treatment she needed- the treatment that she deserved so that she could live the longest and most comfortable life possible.

And even after her time was up and she had left, I would still be married to him so that my father wouldn't be drowned in the debts that her treatment left behind.

The car was moving, it had been moving for a while. The rain was pouring, which was happening for a while too. At least the day was agreeing with my mood, gloomy and depressing.

With the same fidgety actions that I drove 'home' with, I found myself speeding off to no where.

When I pulled the vehicle to a halt with a screech of the tires, and ran bare footed to my destination, hair down, soaked and stuck to my cheeks and clothes a rattled mess, I found myself pounding on a door.

I wasn't thinking- I couldn't concentrate on anything. It felt like I couldn't see anything- couldn't feel or hear anything at all as I stood there, my body leaning against the frame on the door for balance.

I looked up through my eyelashes and stared at the person before me as the door swang open.

I was so unsure of everything for the entire day, so numb.

But what I knew for sure, was that I felt, saw and heard everything- when I grabbed onto Enrique's neck and kissed him.

'~~~~|~~~~'

Word Count: 4812

Please, be mindful of this chapter. Some people may ask why she was crying ajd upset when she found a man that she doesn't love, and barely even liked, cheating on her.
But you need to remember that she was married to this man for 11 years, and his choose of woman also wasn't the best. It made her feel unworthy, disgusting and unattractive.